Diving

DIVING FRANCE INTRODUCTION





COUNTRY INFORMATION


Official name

French Republic


Capital

Paris


Coordinates

46°00’ N, 2°00’ E


Location

France is located in Western Europe (bordering the Bay of Biscay, English Channel and Mediterranean Sea). France shares borders with Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium on the west and with Spain on the southern-east.


Area

Total area: 547 030 sq km
Land area: 545 630 sq km
Water area: 1 400 sq km


Land boundaries

2 889 km


Coastline

3 427 km


Administrative division

France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions and 4 overseas regions. The country is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4 overseas departments.


Political system

France is a republic. The President is the chief of state and is elected every five years. Bicameral Parliament consists of Senate and National Assembly. Members of the Parliament are elected every five years.


Population

64 057 790


Ethnic groups

French 83%, Arabs 3%, Italian 2%, Bretons 2%, other 6%


Religions

Catholic 83-88%, Muslim 5-10%, Protestants 2%, other 4%